EVENT 1/28 Civic Innovation, Can It Save Our Democracy?

Civic innovation is a term that is being used to describe everything from grassroots movements to the shareable economy to open government. While some may argue that the broad application of the term renders it meaningless, the New America’s California Civic Innovation Project, believes the broad concept of civic innovation can be a powerful way of unifying seemingly disparate communities and developing a shared vision for the future of cities.

If we can think of civic innovation as a vibrant ecosystem of actors, concepts, approaches, and change models, rather than just a catch-all, descriptive phrase, we have an opportunity to establish channels for dialogue among groups that do not normally speak to one another.

The event’s panelists will present a range of civic innovations advanced by various actors within the ecosystem. They will discuss civic innovation from the perspectives of civic groups, government, and non-profits. The panel will be followed by a moderated discussion on how the various groups interact, collaborate, and support the civic innovation ecosystem.